Shelving structure



May 7, 1963 H. G. KNUTH SHELVING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1961 IN V EN TOR.

BIIIIARVEY G. K NUTH Q QM% #W EH7 5 May 7, 1963 H. G. KNUTH SHELVING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1961 INVENTOR. ;-\ARvEY G. KNUTH i 4 5 HE zl EH7 5% United States atent 3,088,424 SIELVING STRUCT Harvey G. Knuth, Elgin, IlL, assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 82,573 24 Claims. (Cl. 1tl8108) This invention relates to shelving and particularly to improved supports for shelving and support brackets.

It is often desirable to support shelves in cantilever fashion from a wall or from a frame whereby to give unobstructed access to the shelves from the front and sides thereof and specifically along the entire periphery of the front and sides thereof. Shelving of this type provided heretofore has in general been unsatisfactory in that the shelving could be installed and changed only with difficulty or was not structurally strong whereby only small loads could be placed thereon.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved cantilever shelving including improved shelving supports and shelving brackets therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shelving of the type set forth in which the shelves are supported by brackets, the brackets being in turn supported by uprights or standards.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in cantilever shelving of the type set forth an improved construction wherein the support brackets can be quickly assembled with and removed from the associated standards, such assembly and removal being accomplished without the use of any tools.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in cantilever shelving of the type set forth an improved bracket which firmly grips the associated shelf and gives good support therefor at the associated end thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved support bracket which fulfills the objects and advantages set forth above.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings wherein like numerals have been utilized to designate like parts throughout:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shelving installation made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention and utilizing therein the improved support bracket of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section through the top shelf of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the support brackets forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a View in horizontal section showing the assembly of one of the support brackets on the associated standards;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged view in vertical section through the shelving substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line S5 of FIGS. 2 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged view in vertical section through the assembly of FIGS. 2 and 4 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the lines 6-6 of FIGS. 2 and 4;

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged view of the outer end of the assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 substantially as seen along the lines 7-7 thereof;

FIG. '8 is a further enlarged view in vertical section substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 8-8 in FIG. 2 and illustrating the support provided for the associated shelves;

FIG. 9 is a further enlarged view in vertical section through the outer end of the assembly in FIG. 2 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 9-9 thereof and illustrating the further support of the outer ends of the shelves;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in vertical section similar to FIG. 2 illustrating an assembly incorporating therein a second embodiment of the support arm of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the standard and the associated bracket of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the outer end of the as sembly illustrated in FIG. 10 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 1212 thereof; and

FIGS. 13 to 15 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views illustrating the assembly of the two sections of the support bracket illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, the parts in FIG. -15 being those seen in horizontal section along the line 15-15 of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. -1 of the drawings there is shown a shelving system generally designated :by the numeral 20 which is made in accordance with and embodies the principles of the present invention. The shelving system 24 includes generally a plurality of upstanding posts, uprights or standards 22 placed in general alignment, a plurality of support brackets 24 mounted on each of the standards 22, a plurality of studs 26 mounting the brackets 24 on the standards 22, and a plurality of shelves 28 supported upon the brackets 24.

The standards 22 are preferably T-shape in cross section and include a crosspiece 3'0 and a leg portion or flange 32, the flange 32 having a plurality of apertures 34 therein and equally spaced therealong to receive the studs 26 therein as will be described more fully hereinafter. In assembling the shelving structure 20 a plurality of the posts 22 are arranged in vertical alignment and may be supported against a wall by suitable fasteners engaging the crosspiece 31) or may be mounted on feet (not shown) or a base such as that designated by the numeral 36 in FIG. 1. At least two of the standards 22 are needed to support a shelf and several standards may be placed in alignment to provide a more extensive shelf area, three standards 22 having been illustrated in the shelving structure 2% of FIG. 1.

The support brackets 24 are all identical in construc tion and accordingly one will be described in detail with particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Each of the brackets 24 comprises a pair of bracket sections 38 and 40, the bracket sections 38 and 40 being formed as mirror images one of the other. Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the bracket section 38 includes a substantially flat body 42 which is elongated and as may 'be best seen in FIG. 2 has substantially straight top and end edges and an upwardly inclined lower edge which converges toward the upper edge at the outer end of the bracket 24 as viewed in FIG. 2. Formed integral with and along a substantial portion of the upper edge of the body 42 is a reinforcing flange and shelf support 44 disposed substantially at right angles to the body 42 and extending in a direction away from the other bracket section 40. The lower edge of the body 42 has a similar reinforcing flange 46 formed thereon, the flange 46 being also disposed substantially perpendicular to the body 42 and extending substantially the entire length thereof, the flanges 44 and 46 converging toward each other at the outer end of the bracket 24 as viewed in FIG. 2. The bracket section 40 is provided with a body 48 having along the upper edge thereof a flange 50 and along the lower edge thereof a flange 52 similar to the flanges 44 and 46, respectively, described above. Means is provided to connect the bracket sections 38 and 40 to each other and to this end there is formed in the bodies 42 and 48 dimples or depressions 54 and 56, respectively, directed toward each other and suitably secured as by welding at 58.

The outer end of the bracket 24 is provided with means to support and to hold the associated shelves, the body members 42 and 48 being provided with outwardly directed flanges 60 and 62, respectively, having formed integral therewith upstanding shelf engaging flanges 64 and 66, respectively. The flanges 60 and 62 are formed at the upper edge and at the outer end of the respective body members and the outer edges of the flanges 64 and 66 are adapted to seat against the inner wall of the downturned flange of the associated shelf as is illustrated best in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Means is provided on the other end of the bracket 24 to mount the bracket 24 on an associated standard 22. More specifically, a mounting portion or clip 68 is formed on the bracket section 38 and a similar mounting clip 70 is formed on the rear end of the bracket section 40. As may be best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings the mounting clip 68 includes a first lateral flange 72 formed integral with the rear edge of the body 42 and extending the entire length thereof and above the upper edge of the body 42. Formed integral with the flange 72 and disposed rearwardly therefrom and substantially parallel to the plane of the body 42 is a mounting flange 74. A second lateral flange 76 is formed integral with the mounting flange 74 and an abutment flange 78 is formed integral with the flange 76 and is disposed in the same plane as the body 42 and extending away therefrom. Two keyhole slots 80 are provided in the mounting flange 74, the larger circular portion of each slot being disposed downwardly and the elongated narrow portion of each slot being disposed upwardly. The mounting clip 70 is constructed similar to the mounting clip 68 and includes a first lateral flange 82, a mounting flange 84, a second lateral flange 86, and an abutment flange 88, the mounting flange 84 having a pair of vertically aligned keyhole slots 90 therein.

The studs 26 are used to mount the brackets 24 upon the standards 22 and are adapted to engage in the openings 34 of the standards and the keyhole slots 80 and 90 of the brackets 24, the slots 80 and 90 being arranged in opposed pairs and each pair thereof being in alignment to receive the studs 26 therethrough as may be best seen in FIG. of the drawings. From FIG. 5 it will be seen that each of the studs 26 includes a cylindrical L barrel-like portion 92 having a diameter slightly less than that of an aperture 34 in a standard 22 and is adapted to be received therein when the parts are in the assembled condition. A head or cap portion 94 of larger diameter than the portion 92 is formed integral with the barrel-like portion 92 and has a diameter greater than the aperture 34 whereby to prevent movement of the stud 26 to the left as viewed in FIG. 5. Also formed integral with the barrel-like portion 92 and disposed on the end thereof opposite the cap portion 94 is a first neck portion 96 which is generally cylindrical in shape and concentric with the barrel-like portion 92 and the cap portion 94. The diameter of the first neck portion 96 is slightly less than the diameter of the narrow portion of the keyhole slot 80 and is adapted to be disposed therein. The outer end of the first neck portion 96 carries thereon an integral head or cap portion 98 which is cylindrical in shape and concentric with the neck portion 96 and has a diameter greater than the width of the narrow portion of the keyhole slot 80 but less than that of the larger circular portion of the keyhole slot 80. A second neck portion 100 is provided integral with the cap portion 94 and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the barrel-like portion 92 and being adapted to be disposed in the keyhole slot 99. More particularly,

the neck portion is cylindrical in shape, is concentric with the cap portion 94, and has a diameter slightly less than the width of the elongated narrow portion of the keyhole slot 90. Formed integral with the outer end of the neck portion 100 is a head or cap portion 102 which is cylindrical in shape, is concentric with the neck portion 100, and has a diameter that is greater than the width of the narrow portion of the keyhole slot 90 but less than the diameter of the circular portion of the keyhole slot 99. The above construction serves firmly to assemble the bracket 24 upon the associated standard 22.

In addition to mounting the bracket 24 upon the standard 22, the clip portions 68 and 70 further serve to grip and to hold the associated shelf 28 against the associated standard 22. Each of the mounting flanges 74 and 84 extends above the upper edge of the associated bodies 42-48 and likewise each of the lateral flanges 72, 76, 82 and 86 extends upwardly above the upper edge of the body members 42-48 whereas the abutment flanges 78 and 88 terminate at edges 104166 substantially in alignment with the upper edge of the body members 42 and 48. Each of the lateral flanges 72, 76, 82 and 86 is further relieved adjacent to the upper edge thereof to provide rounded camming surfaces 108, 110, 112 and 114, respectively, thereon, each of the camming surfaces being curved and extending toward an associated camming surface and spaced therefrom a distance equal to slightly less than the combined thickness of two shelf sides and the associated flange 32 whereby to press the shelf sides against the flange 32 as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 5 through 9, the construction of a typical shelf 28 useful in combination with the standards 22 and the support brackets 24 will be described. "Each shelf 28 includes a substantially flat rectangular body 116 having formed integrally on each of the four edges thereof downturned flanges, a front flange 118, a back flange 120 and side flanges 122 being provided. Each of the flanges 118 through 122 is further provided with an inwardly and upwardly directed reinforcing flange, the front flange being provided with a reinforcing flange 124, the rear flange 120 being provided with a reinforcing flange 126 and each of the end flanges 122 being provided with a reinforcing flange 128. {The reinforcing flanges do not extend the full length of the associated shelf edge and terminate at points spaced from the corners of the shelf as may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 through 9. The vertical flanges 118 through 122 form in effect a single continuous, vertical flange on the shelf. The front flange 118 is engaged by the outer vertical edges 130 and 132 formed on the flanges 64 and 66 of the brackets 24, the vertical edges 130 and 132 engaging the inner surfaces of the downturned flange 118 as may be best seen in FIG. 2 whereby firmly to position the forward edge of the shelf 28 with respect to the associated brackets 24. The rear flange 120 similarly engages the rearward surface of the lateral flanges 76 and 86 whereby firmly to position the rear edge of the shelf 28 with respect to the associated brackets 24. The side edges of the shelf 28 are supported upon the support flanges 44 and 50 as may be best seen in FIGS. 6 through 9 whereby to give good support for the ends of each of the shelves 28 upon the associated support brackets 24.

In assembling the shelving structure 20, the standards 22 are first placed in an operative position such as by mounting on a wall or attachment to the base 36. The support brackets 24 are then assembled upon the standards 22 in the desired adjusted positions, the brackets 24 to support a shelf being arranged in horizontal alignment, i.e., at the same height above the floor or the base 36. In assembling a support bracket 24 upon a stand ard 22, two studs 26 are arranged respectively in correspondingly spaced apertures 34 in the flange 32 of the standard 22 to place the studs 26 in the position illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings wherein the barrel-like portion 92 is arranged within the associated aperture 34. The support bracket is then assembled thereon by urging the mounting portions 68 and 70 away from each other, this being accommodated by the fact that the bracket sections 38 and '40 are connected only at the depressions 54 and 56 which are disposed a substantial distance away from the mounting portions 68 and 70. The described construction of the support bracket 24 actually permits the abutment flanges 78 and 88 to be spread apart a distance to encompass and receive the entire length of the studs 26 therebetween. The support bracket is maneuvered until the larger circular portions of the keyhole slots 80 and 90 are arranged opposite the cap portions 98 and 182 of the studs 26 whereby to permit the cap portions 98 and 102 of both of the associated studs 26 to pass through the enlarged circular portions of the keyhole slots 88 and 90. The entire support bracket 24 is then shifted bodily downwardly so as to move the first neck portion '96 upwardly to the narrower portion of the keyhole slot 80 and simultaneously to move the neck portion 180 of the studs 26 upwardly into the narrower portions of the keyhole slots 98. At the completion of the downward movement of the support bracket 24, the studs 26 should be positioned as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings thereby to mount the bracket 24 upon the associated standard 22 by means of the studs 26. It is to be noted, however, that although the brackets 24 are supported upon and by the standard 22 at this point in the assembly operation, the parts will be clamped together more firmly after the shelves 28 are placed thereon.

A shelf 28 is then assembled upon a spaced apart and horizontally aligned pair of the brackets 24 that are in mounted position upon adjacent standards 22, The front flange 118 is placed over the shelf engaging flange 64 on one of the brackets 24 and the shelf engaging flange 66 of the other bracket 24 and the rear flange 120 is disposed behind the lateral flanges 76 and 86 of the two support brackets 24. The bottom edges of the end shelf flanges 122 are supported upon the bracket flanges 44 and 50 in addition so that the shelf 28 is supported at each end thereof along substantially the entire length of each end flange 122. The shelf engaging flanges 64 and 66 firmly place the forward edge of the shelf 28 in the predetermined desired position and the flanges 76 and 86 firmly position the rear of the shelf 28. When two adjacent shelves 28 have been assembled as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 9 of the drawings, the rear of the shelves are actually clamped to the standards 22 by the action of the camming surfaces 108 and 110 on the bracket section 38 and the camming surfaces 112 and 114 on the bracket section 40, these camming surfaces urging the end walls 122 of the adjacent shelves toward each other and against the flange 32 of the associated standards 22, the parts being shaped and proportioned so that the shelf must be pushed downwardly to force the end flanges past the camming surfaces and along the walls of the flange 32 whereby to provide a good close friction fit therebetween.

With the parts thus assembled, access can be had to the entire periphery of the shelf arrangement including the entire forward edge and the entire end edges without interference from supporting posts at the corners or intermediate the length of the forward edge. Yet the shelves 28 are securely supported along substantially the entire length of each of the end flanges 122 and are securely placed and held against movement in a direction parallel to the support brackets 24 by means of the flanges 64 and 66 at the front and the flanges '76 and 86 at the rear. Further the shelves 28 are firmly clamped to the standards 22 by the action of the camming surfaces 108, 1 10, 112 and 114 engaging the shelf end flanges 122 to press them into gripping relationship against the standard flange 32.

There is shown in FIGS. 10 through 15 of the drawings a second preferred form of the support bracket that can be used in mounting the shelves 28 upon the standards 22; like reference numerals have been applied to the standards 22 and the shelves 28 since the construction thereof is identical to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9 of the drawings and similar reference numerals beginning with the numeral 2 have been applied to similar parts of the second embodiment of the bracket, whereby the second embodiment of the bracket is designated by the numeral 224 and includes two bracket sections 238 and 240. The bracket section 238 includes a substantially flat body 242 having substantially straight top and end edges and an upwardly inclined lower edge which converges toward the upper edge at the outer end of the bracket 224 as viewed in FIG. 10. Formed integrally with and along a substantial portion of the upper edge of the body 242 is a reinforcing flange and shelf support 244 disposed substantially at right angles to the body 242 and extending in a direction away from the other bracket section 240. The lower edge of the body 242 has a similar reinforcing flange 246 formed thereon, the flange 246 being disposed substantially perpendicular to the body 242 and extending substantially the entire length thereof, the flanges 244 and 246 converging toward each other at the outer end of the bracket 224 as viewed in FIG. 10. The bracket section 240 is provided with a body 248 having along the upper edge thereof a flange 250 and along the lower edge thereof a flange 252 similar to the flanges 244 and 246, respectively, described above.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the bracket sections 238 and 240 of the bracket 224 are separate and distinct and are connected through a structure that is best illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 13 to 15 of the drawings. The body 242 of the bracket section 238 has a substantially rectangular aperture 254 formed thereon adjacent to the outer end thereof and in substantially the same position that the depression 54 was formed in the body 42, as is best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The bracket section 248 has struck from the body 248 thereof a spacing flange 256 which is disposed substantially perpendicular to the body 248 and arranged vertically and having formed integral on the outer edge thereof a substantially rectangularly shaped gripping member or tongue 258. In horizontal section the gripping member is slightly curved with the concave side disposed toward the adjacent surface of the body 248 as may best be seen in FIG. 13 of the drawings and is normally spaced therefrom a distance less than the thickness of the body 242 of the bracket section 238. The outer end of the gripping member 258 is spaced away from the body 248 a distance which is slightly greater than the thickness of the body 242 whereby to provide a camming surface 259 that is useful during assembly, the gripping member 258 being resiliently mounted with respect to the body 248. In order to assemble the bracket sections 238 and 240 to provide the complete bracket 2.24, the bracket sections 238 and 240 are placed in the position illustrated in FIG. 13 wherein the tongue 258 is in general alignment with the aperture 254. The two bracket sections are then moved toward each other whereby to insert the flange 256 and the tongue 258 through the aperture 254 to place the parts in the position illustrated in FIG. 14 of the drawings. Thereafter the parts are moved longitudinally with respect to each other, the camming surface 259 engaging the material defining the aperture 254 on the body 242 resiliently to move the gripping member 258 outwardly away from the body 248 and onto the body 242 thereby resiliently to grip the body 242 between the body 248 and the gripping member 258, the parts now being in the position illustrated in FIG. 15 of the drawings.

The outer end of the bnacket 224 is provided with means to support and to hold the associated shelves 228, the body members 242 and 248 being provided with outwardly directed flanges 260' and 262 respectively having formed integral therewith upstanding shelf engaging flanges 264 and 266 respectively. The flanges 260 and 262 are formed on the upper edge and at the outer end of the respective body members and the outer edges of the flanges 264- and 266 are adapted to seat against the inner wall of the downturned front flange 118 of the associated shelf 28 as is best illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings.

Means is provided at the other end of the bracket 224 to mount it upon an associated standard 22, the bracket section 238 being provided with a mounting portion or clip 268 and the bracket section 240 being provided with a similar mounting clip 270. As may be best seen in FIG. 11 of the drawings the mounting clip 268 includes a first lateral flange 272, a mounting flange 274, -a second lateral flange 276 and an abutment flange 278. Two keyhole slots 280 are provided in the mounting flange 274, the larger circular portion of each slot being disposed downwardly and the elongated narrow portion of each slot being disposed upwardly. The mounting clip 270 is constructed similar to the mounting clip 268 and includes a first lateral flange 282, a mounting flange 284, a second lateral flange 286, and an abutment flange 288, the mounting flange 284 having a pair of vertically aligned keyhole slots 290 therein.

.In assembling the shelving structure illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 15 of the drawings, the standards 22 are first secured in the operative position as described above with respect to the shelving structure and two studs 26 are arranged in adjacent openings 34 in the standard 22 as has been described above. The bracket sections 238 and 240 are then assembled as is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15 of the drawings, this manner of construction and assembling the bracket sections 238 and 240 accommodating movement of the mounting portions 268 and 270 away from each other a distance to receive the length of the studs 26 therebetween. After spreading of the bracket sections 238 and 240 so that the mounting portions 268 and 270 are spaced apart the required distance, they are arranged about the studs 26 in a manner such that the larger circular portions of the keyhole slots 280 and 290 are arranged opposite the cap portions 98 and 102 of the studs, after which the bracket sections 238 and 240 are moved toward each other and then the entire bracket moved downwardly to place the neck portions 96 and 100 of the studs 26 in the narrow portions of the keyhole slots 280 and 290 thereby completing assembly of the bracket sections 238 and 240 to each other and thereby completing the mounting of the assembled bracket 224 upon the associated standard 22. The shelves 28 are then mounted upon the brackets 224 in the same manner in which the shelves 28 are mounted upon the brackets 24 described above. The brackets 224 serve firmly to support the shelves 28 along substantially the entire length of the end flanges 122 thereof and firmly to hold the shelves against forward and rearward motion by engagement of the flanges 264 and 266 with the shelf front flange 118 and by engagement of the bracket flanges 276 and 286 with the rear shelf flange 1 20.

It will be seen that there has been provided an improved shelving structure including improved supports and support brackets which fulfill all of the objects and advantages set forth above. Although two preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shelving structure comprising first and second upright standards spaced apart and each having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, first and second shelf support brackets respectively on said first and second standards with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed substantially horizontally and parallel to each other, each of said brackets including an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein in alignment with one of said holes, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange, a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange, studs in the aligned holes and apertures of said standards and said mounting portions for mounting said brackets on said standards, and a shelf having a downturned flange thereon and mounted on said brackets with said shelf support flanges supporting the lower edge of said downturned flange and said first and second shelf positioning flanges engaging within said downturned flange for fixedly positioning said shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said brackets, whereby said shelf is supported in cantilever fashion to permit free access thereto completely around the front and ends thereof.

2. A shelving structure comprising first and second upright standards spaced apart and each having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, first and second shelf support brackets respectively on said first and second standards with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed substantially horizontally and parallel to each other, each of said brackets including an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein in alignment with one of said holes, said mounting portion including a laterally directed flange having a camming surface disposed toward the associated standard and spaced therefrom a predetermined distance, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange, a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange, studs in the aligned holes and apertures of said standards and said mounting portions for mounting said brackets on said standards, and a shelf having downturned flanges thereon and mounted on said brackets with said shelf support flanges supporting the lower edges of said downturned flanges and said camming surfaces gripping said downturned flanges against said standards and said first and second shelf positioning flanges engaging within said downturned flanges for fixedly positioning said shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said brackets, whereby said shelf is supported in cantilever fashion to permit free access thereto completely around the front and ends thereof.

3. A shelving structure comprising first and second upright standards spaced apart and each having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, first and second shelf support brackets respectively on said first and second standards with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed substantially horizontally and parallel to each other, each of said brackets including an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein in alignment with one of said holes, said mounting portion including two spaced apart lateral flanges each having a camming surface thereon disposed toward the associated standard and spaced therefrom a predetermined distance, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange, a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange, studs in the aligned holes and apertures of said standards and said mounting portions for mounting said brackets on said standards, and a shelf having downturned flanges thereon and mounted on said brackets with said shelf support flanges supporting the lower edges of said downturned flanges and said camming surfaces gripping said downturned flanges against said standards and said first and second shelf positioning flanges engaging within said downturned flanges for fixedly positioning said shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said brackets, whereby said shelf is supported in cantilever fashion to permit free access thereto completely around the front and ends thereof.

4. The shelving structure set forth in claim 3, wherein said shelf support brackets have reinforcing flanges along the lower edges thereof and extending substantially the entire length thereof.

5. The shelving structure set forth in claim 3, wherein said lateral flanges are substantially parallel to each other and are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said bodies and extend the entire height of said bodies and thereabove, said camming surfaces being disposed above said shelf support flanges.

6. The shelving structure set forth in claim 5, wherein the rearmost lateral flange has integral thereon a rearwardly extending abutment flange disposed in the same plane as said body and extending rearwardly therefrom to provide lateral stability to said bracket.

7. A shelving structure comprising first and second upright standards spaced apart and each having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, first and second shelf support brackets respectively on said first and second standards with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed substantially horizontally and parallel to each other, each of said brackets including an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and including a pair of spaced apart lateral flanges disposed substantially perpendicular to said body and connected by a mounting flange having a keyhole slot therein with the larger portion of said slot having a predetermined size and the narrower portion of said slot extending upwardly therefrom and having a predetermined width, a stud having a cylindrical portion passing through said hole and a first head having a diameter greater than said hole to engage the face of said standard opposite said body, said stud having at the other end thereof an integral neck portion of lesser diameter than the width of said narrower portion and having integral with the other end of said neck a second head having a diameter greater than the width of said narrower portion and disposed therein and having a diameter less than the size of said larger portion of said keyhole slot, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange, a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange, and a shelf having downturned flanges thereon and mounted on said brackets with said shelf support flanges supporting the lower edges of said downturned flanges and said camming flanges gripping said downturned flanges against said standards and said first and second shelf positioning flanges engaging within said downturned flanges for fixedly positioning said shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said brackets, whereby said shelf is supported in cantilever fashion to permit free access thereto completely around the front and ends thereof.

8. A shelving structure comprising first and second upright standards spaced apart and each having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, first and second shelf support brackets respectively on said first and second standards with the longitudinal axes thereof disposed substantially horizontally and parallel to each other, each of said brackets including two bracket pieces each of which includes an elongated body, means interconnecting the two bracket pieces at the end thereof disposed away from said standards, a mounting portion on one end of each of said bodies and having apertures in alignment with each other and with one of said holes, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of each of said bodies and extending outwardly away from each other and substantially the entire length of said bodies, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of each of said bodies and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flanges and spaced laterally from each other, a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of each of said bodies and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and spaced laterally from each other, studs in the aligned holes and apertures of said standards and said mounting portions for mounting said brackets on said standards, and shelves each having a downturned flange thereon and mounted on said brackets with the shelf support flanges directed toward each other supporting the lower edge of the downturned flange on a shelf and with said first and second positioning flanges disposed toward each Other engaging within the downturned flange of a shelf for fixedly positioning said shelves in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said brackets, whereby said shelves are supported in cantilever fashion to permit free access thereto completely around the front and ends thereof.

9. The shelving structure set forth in claim 8, wherein the means interconnecting said bracket pieces permaneirlitly joins and fixedly fastens said bracket pieces to each ot er.

10. The shelving structure set forth in claim 8, wherein said means interconnecting said bracket pieces comprises an aperture in the body of one of said bracket pieces and a resilient tongue on the body of the other of said bracket pieces and spaced therefrom a distance less than the thickness of the body of said one bracket piece and extending through said aperture therein, thereby resiliently to grip the body of said one bracket piece between said tongue and the body of said other bracket plece.

11. A shelf support assembly for holding in cantilever fashion a shelf having a downturned flange thereon comprising, an upright standard having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, a shelf support bracket on said standard with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed substantially horizontally, said bracket including an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein in alignment with one of said holes, a stud in the aligned hole and aperture of said standard and said mounting portion for mounting said bracket on said standard, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof and adapted to engage and to support the lower edge of the downturned flange of the associated shelf, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flange of the associated shelf, and a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flange of the associated shelf, said shelf positioning flanges cooperating fixedly to position the associated shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body.

12. A shelf support assembly for holding in cantilever fashion a shelf having downturned flanges thereon comprising, an upright standard having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, a shelf support bracket on said standard with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed substantially horizontally, said bracket including an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein in alignment with one of said holes, said mounting portion including a laterally directed flange having a camming surface disposed toward said standard and spaced therefrom a distance slightly less than the thickness of the flange of the associated shelf firmly to grip the shelf flange between said camming surface and said standard, a stud in the aligned hole and aperture of said standard and said mounting portion for mounting said bracket on said standard, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof and adapted to engage and to support the lower edge of one downturned flange of .the associated shelf, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, and a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, said shelf positioning flanges cooperating fixedly to position the associated shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body.

13. A shelf support assembly for holding in cantilever fashion a shelf having downturned flanges thereon comprising, an upright standard having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, a shelf support bracket on said standard with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed substantially horizontally, said bracket including an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein in alignment with one of said holes, said mounting portion including two spaced apart lateral flanges each having a camming surface thereon disposed toward said standard and spaced therefrom a distance slightly less than the thickness of the flange of the associated shelf firmly to grip the shelf flange between said camming surfaces and said standard, a stud in the aligned hole and aperture of said standard and said mounting portion for mounting said bracket on said standard, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof and adapted to engage and to support the lower edge of one downturned flange of the associated shelf, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted .to engage within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, and a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, said shelf positioning flanges cooperating fixedly to position the associated shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body.

14. A shelf support assembly for holding in cantilever fashion a shelf having downturned flanges thereon comprising, an upright standard having a vertically arranged series of spaced holes therein, a shelf support bracket on said standard with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed substantially horizontally, said bracket including two bracket pieces each of which includes an elongated body, means interconnecting said bracket pieces at the ends thereof disposed away from said standard, a mounting portion on one end of each of said bodies and having apertures in alignment with each other and with one of said holes, a stud in the aligned hole and aperture of said standard and said mounting portion for mounting said bracket on said standard, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of each of said bodies and extending outwardly away from each other and substantially the entire length of said bodies and adapted to engage and to support the lower edge of one downturned flange of the associated shelf, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of each of said bodies and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flanges and spaced laterally in the direction of the associated shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of each of said bodies and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and spaced laterally from each other in the direction of the associated shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, said shelf positioning flanges cooperating fixedly to position the associated shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said bodies.

15. The shelf support assembly set forth in claim 14, wherein the means interconnecting said bracket pieces permanently joins and fixedly fastens said bracket pieces to each other.

16. The shelf support assembly set forth in claim 14, wherein said means interconnecting said bracket pieces comprises an aperture in the body of one of said bracket pieces and a resilient tongue on the body of the other of said bracket pieces and spaced therefrom a distance less than the thickness of the body of said one bracket piece and extending through said aperture therein, thereby resiliently to grip said body of said one bracket piece between said tongue and the body of said other bracket piece.

17. A support bracket for mounting a shelf having a downturned flange upon a standard having a series of holes therein with a stud positioned in one of the holes, said support bracket comprising an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein to receive the associated stud therethrough to mount said bracket upon the associated standard with the longitudinal axis of said body disposed substantially horizontally, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof and adapted to engage and to support the lower edge of the downturned flange of the associated shelf, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly there from and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flange of the associated shelf, and a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flange of the associated shelf, said shelf positioning flanges being adapted to cooperate fixedly to position the associated shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body.

18. A support bracket for mounting a shelf having downturned flanges upon a standard having a series of holes therein with a stud positioned in one of the holes, said support bracket comprising an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein to receive the associated stud therethrough to mount said bracket upon the associated standard with the longitudinal aXis of said body disposed sub stantially horizontally, said mounting portion including a laterally directed flange having a camming surface adapted to be disposed toward the associated standard and spaced therefrom a distance slightly less than the thickness of the flange of the associated shelf to grip the shelf flange between said camming surface and the associated standard, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof and adapted to engage and to support the lower edge of one downturned flange of the associated shelf, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flanges and adapted to engage withln the downturned flange of the associated shelf, and a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage Within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, said shelf positloning flanges being adapted to cooperate fixedly to position the associated shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body.

19. A support bracket for mounting a shelf having downturned flanges upon a standard having a series of holes therein with a stud positioned in one of the holes,

said support bracket comprising an elongated body, a mounting portion on one end of said body and having an aperture therein to receive the associated stud therethrough to mount said bracket upon the associated standard with the longitudinal axis of said body disposed substantially horizontally, said mounting portion including two spaced apart lateral flanges each having a camming surface thereon adapted to be disposed toward the associated standard and spaced therefrom a distance slightly less than the thickness of the flange of the associated shelf to grip the shelf flange between said carnming surface and the associated standard, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of said body and extending substantially the entire length thereof and adapted to engage and to support the lower edge of one downturned flange of the associated shelf, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, and a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of said body and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flange and adapted to engage within the downturned flanges of the associated shelf, said shelf positioning flanges being adapted to cooperate fixedly to position the associated shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body.

20. The support bracket set forth in claim 19, wherein said support bracket has a reinforcing flange along the lower edge thereof and extending substantially the entire length thereof.

21. The support bracket set forth in claim 19, wherein said lateral flanges are substantially parallel to each other and are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body and extend the entire height of said body and thereabove, said camming surfaces being disposed above said shelf support flanges.

22. A support bracket for mounting a shelf having downturned flanges upon a standard, the standard having a series of holes therein with a stud positioned in one of the holes, said support bracket comprising two bracket pieces each of which includes an elongated body, means interconnecting said bracket pieces at the end thereof adapted to be disposed away from the associated standard, a mounting portion on one end of each of said bodies and having apertures therein in alignment with each other to receive the associated stud therethrough to mount said bracket upon the associated standard with the longitudinal axes of said bodies disposed substantially horizontally, a shelf support flange on the upper edge of each of said bodies and extending outwardly away from each other and substantially the entire length of said bodies and adapted to engage and to support the lower edge of one downturned flange of the associated shelf, a first shelf positioning flange on the other end of each of said bodies and extending upwardly therefrom and above said support flanges and spaced laterally from each other and adapted to engage within one downturned flange of the associated shelf, and a second shelf positioning flange on said one end of each of said bodies and extending upwardly therefrom and above said shelf support flanges and spaced laterally from each other and adapted to engage within one downturned flange of the associated shelf, said positioning flanges being adapted to cooperate fixedly to position the associated shelf in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bodies.

23. The support bracket set forth in claim 22, wherein the means interconnecting said bracket pieces permanently joins and fixedly fastens said bracket pieces to each other.

24. The support bracket set forth in claim 22, wherein said means interconnecting said bracket pieces comprises an aperture in the body of one of said bracket pieces and a resilient tongue on the body of the other of said bracket pieces and spaced therefrom a distance less than the thickness of the body of said one bracket piece and extending through said aperture therein, thereby resiliently to clamp the body of said one bracket piece between said tongue and the body of said other bracket piece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,767,950 Bellon Oct. 23, 1956 2,790,559 Stephenson Apr. 30, 1957 2,837,219 Ferdinand June 3, 1958 2845,4187 Bianchi July 29, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 707,694 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1954 

1. A SHELVING STRUCTURE COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND UPRIGHT STANDARDS SPACED APART AND EACH HAVING A VERTICALLY ARRANGED SERIES OF SPACED HOLES THEREIN, FIRST AND SECOND SHELF SUPPORT BRACKETS RESPECTIVELY ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND STANDARDS WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXES THEREOF DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY AND PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID BRACKETS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BODY, A MOUNTING PORTION ON ONE END OF SAID BODY AND HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID HOLES, A SHELF SUPPORT FLANGE ON THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID BODY AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH THEREOF, A FIRST SHELF POSITIONING FLANGE ON THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AND ABOVE SAID SHELF SUPPORT FLANGE, A SECOND SHELF POSITIONING FLANGE ON SAID ONE END OF SAID BODY AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AND ABOVE SAID SHELF SUPPORT FLANGE, STUDS IN THE ALIGNED HOLES AND APERTURES OF SAID STANDARDS AND SAID MOUNTING PORTIONS FOR MOUNTING SAID BRACKETS ON SAID STANDARDS, AND A SHELF HAVING A DOWNTURNED FLANGE THEREON AND MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKETS WITH SAID SHELF SUPPORT FLANGES SUPPORTING THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID DOWNTURNED FLANGE AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHELF POSITIONING FLANGES ENGAGING WITHIN SAID DOWNTURNED FLANGE FOR FIXEDLY POSITIONING SAID SHELF IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID BRACKETS, WHEREBY SAID SHELF IS SUPPORTED IN CANTILEVER FASHION TO PERMIT FREE ACCESS THERETO COMPLETELY AROUND THE FRONT AND ENDS THEREOF. 